Volunteer eagle spotters sought for seasonal tally

Wanted: Volunteers, a.k.a. citizen scientists, to help count bald eagles wintering in Southern California. No experience necessary.

Bald eagle counts are scheduled Feb. 10 and March 10. Volunteers should bring binoculars and a watch. After an orientation session, they are sent to observation sites where they record the number of eagles they see between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Here are places to meet to participate in upcoming eagle counts. Big Bear Lake: 8 a.m., Big Bear Discovery Center, 40971 N. Shore Drive/Highway 38, Fawnskin, for orientation. Contact: Robin Eliason, reliason@fs.fed.us, (909) 382-2832. Lake Arrowhead/Lake Gregory: 8 a.m., Lake Arrowhead Ranger Station, 28104 Highway 18, Skyforest, for orientation. Contact Robin Eliason, reliason@fs.fed.us, (909) 382-2832. Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area: 8 a.m. at Silverwood Lake’s Visitor Center, 14651 Cedar Circle, Hesperia, for orientation. Contact Mark Wright, mark.wright@parks.ca.gov, (760) 389-2303 or (760) 389 2281. Lake Hemet: 8 a.m., Lake Hemet Market, 56570 Highway 74, Mountain Center, for orientation. Contact Ann Bowers, annbowers@fs.fed.us, (909) 382-2935. Lake Perris State Recreation Area: 8 a.m., Lake Perris Regional Indian Museum, 7801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris, for orientation. Contact the recreation area at (951) 9405600 or the museum at (951) 940-5657. It’s the 39th year that the U.S. Forest Service and California State Parks have organized the seasonal count to monitor how many eagles come to visit.